White Sox escape again, but test GM's patience

The White Sox and opposing teams are testing general manager Ken Williams' patience.

But for the second time in as many nights, the Sox gathered enough resources to pull out a victory, this one 7-6 Saturday night in Detroit, despite knowing their depth will be stretched past Thursday's 3 p.m. non-waiver trading deadline.

The Sox won without valuable set-up man Scott Linebrink, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list and won't be eligible to return until Aug. 6. Octavio Dotel and closer Bobby Jenks each stranded the tying run in the final three innings, with Jenks striking out Placido Polanco to end the game and help the Sox keep their 31/2-game lead over the Twins in the American League Central.

"Everyone knows about Detroit," said Dotel, who struck out Carlos Guillen to end the seventh and whiffed Marcus Thames to close the eighth. "When we're winning against those guys, I get really happy and pumped up because it's like winning the World Series."

Before the game, Williams was less than giddy about the prospect of a deal and said he was maintaining an aggressive stance even before the Sox suffered a rash of injuries.

"The climate is awful," Williams said. "But that's from our perspective. Obviously, the Yankees were able to get something done to help them, seemingly helps them, and there have been some other deals. But from our vantage point, I'm really not seeing anything that makes any sense. As a matter of fact, the things that are in front of us right now would do nothing but harm us for the present and the future."

Some teams, such as the Rockies, could be seeking two prospects for a left-handed specialist like Brian Fuentes because he could qualify as a Type A free agent and give them two draft picks if he signs elsewhere.

Saturday night left-hander Boone Logan further tested manager Ozzie Guillen's patience when he allowed a two-out hit to Curtis Granderson in the seventh.

"I'm a little frustrated with Boone Logan," Guillen said. "We try to give him the opportunity to get it done, and he can't find a way.

"Having Linebrink down, everyone has to do better. And they know that."

Williams, however, isn't giving up on making an acquisition and said "for the right deal, there is no such thing" as an untouchable player in the Sox's farm system.

Williams is prepared for criticism in the event he can't make a trade before the deadline.

"This is not fantasy baseball," Williams said. "I have a whole lot of good ideas to improve this ballclub, a whole lot of good ideas, but they're fantasy. They're not reality based."

The Sox tagged Tigers starter Justin Verlander, who was on a six-game winning streak, with four runs in the third and knocked him out with three in the fifth. Verlander's record against the Sox fell to 2-7 over 12 career starts.

Carlos Quentin launched an 96-m.p.h. pitch for a two-run home run in the third, his 27th, and Jermaine Dye followed with a solo shot to give the Sox a 4-1 lead.